In the blue waters off the southeastern coast of Japan, a
drilling vessel pushes its drill into the earth's core. The drill
bit works non stop, cranking itself past black salt water, pushing
deep, deep, deeper layers of sand, clay, rock - and the
unknown.
On the surface, a scientist leans on the ship's railing, gazing
out to the seamless sky. With nothing in sight but the blue
horizon, he stands in awe and starts to understand that what he's
doing may actually save parts of the world.
An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.
You need an online service to view this article in its entirety.
Login
Or, use your
linked account:
Current print subscribers
Need an account? Create one now.
Or, use your
linked account:
kAm%96 8C@FA @7 :?E6C?2E:@?2= D4:6?E:DED 23@2C5 E96 5C:==:?8 D9:A[
r9:<JF[ 2C6 A2CE @7 2 8C@F?53C62<:?8 AC@;64E E92E :D 2:>:?8 E@ 8@
e[___ >6E6CD W>@C6 E92? `h[___ 766EX :?E@ E96 t2CE9VD 4CFDE]
z?@H:?8 H92E =:6D 36?62E9 E96 DFC7246 >2J @?6 52J AC@G:56 2 H2J E@
7@C642DE @C AC65:4E 62CE9BF2<6D 2?5 EDF?2>:D 367@C6 E96J E9C62E6?
=2C86 4@2DE2= 4:E:6D]k^Am
kAmQxEVD 23D@=FE6=J >2<:?8 9:DE@CJ[Q D2:5 |:4926= &?56CH@@5[ 2
D4:6?E:DE @? E96 AC@;64E] Q%96C6VD ?@E9:?8 6G6C E9:D =2C86 E92E 92D
6G6C 366? 2EE6>AE65 :? E6C>D @7 4@DE[ @C E96 D4@A6[ @C E96
4@>A=6I:EJ @7 E96 AC@;64E]Qk^Am
kAm&?56CH@@5 :D 2 D65:>6?E@=@8:DE H9@ H:== 36 @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE E@
56D4C:36 E96 62CE9VD 4@C6 2?5 :ED 4@>A@D:E:@? 2E DF49 56AE9] pE E96
286 @7 db[ ?@E9:?8 E92E 96 92D 5@?6 4@>A2C6D E@ E9:D AC@;64E \ ?@E
E6249:?8[ ?@E H@C<:?8 :? E96 >@F?E2:?D @7 p=2D<2[ ?@E 8C25F2E:?8
7C@> {@5: w:89 $49@@= :? `hfa]k^Am
kAmp A2DD:@?2E6 86@=@8:DE D:?46 9:D 7:CDE 86@=@8J 4=2DD[ &?56CH@@5
H2D 92?5A:4<65 E@ 36 E96 DA64:2=EJ 4@@C5:?2E@C @7 D65:>6?E@=@8J @?
E96 6IA65:E:@? =2DE s646>36C 2?5 y2?F2CJ] Qw6 :D D@>6@?6 H:E9 2?
:?E6C?2E:@?2= C6AFE2E:@? 7@C W9:DX 6IA6CE:D6 2?5 36:?8 2 E@A\7=:89E
D65:>6?E@=@8:DE[Q D2:5 }2?4J {:89E[ x~s! DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C E96
>F=E:\>:==:@? 5@==2C x?E68C2E65 ~462? sC:==:?8 !C@8C2> Wx~s!X]k^Am
kAmp7E6C >@C6 E92? `_ J62CD @7 A=2??:?8 x~s!VD }2?%C@$tx+t W}2?<2:
%C@F89 $6:D>@86?:4 tIA6C:>6?EX[ E96 7:CDE D9:7ED @7 D4:6?E:DED
7:==65 E96 7@FC 7=@@CD @7 E96 >2DD:G6 5C:==:?8 D9:A 4FCC6?E=J
=@42E65 ?62C y2A2?] }2?%C@$6:K6 :D 2 >F=E:\J62C AC@;64E 56D:8?65 E@
6IA=@C6 E96 A=2E6 3@F?52CJ @7 E96 }2?<2: %C@F89 C68:@?] ~?6 @7 E96
>@DE 24E:G6 62CE9BF2<6 K@?6D @? E96 A=2?6E[ E96 }2?<2: %C@F89 :D
C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 62CE9BF2<6D D:>:=2C E@ E96 a__c x?5:2? ~462?
62CE9BF2<6D E92E <:==65 >@C6 E92? aad[___ A6@A=6 :? ``
4@F?EC:6D]k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQA9@E@\=7E0b__Qmk:>8 DC4l
Q^?6HD0A9@E@D0_g^4@C60a0_g_cae];A8Q H:5E9lQbbgQ 2=ElQQ ^mk3C ^m
k5:G 4=2DDlQ=?D$2?D =?D|65:F>%6IE :?D6EQm%96 D4:6?46 A2CEJ 2?5 4C6H
5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE 4@>A@?6?E @7 E96 }2?%C@$tx+t AC@;64E] W!9@E@8C2A9
4@FCE6DJ @7 |:4926= &?56CH@@5Xk^5:Gm
k^5:Gm
kAmt2CE9BF2<6D @44FC H96? E96 t2CE9VD A=2E6D D=:A[ F?56C DEC6DD 2?5
AC6DDFC6] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 x~s! (63 D:E6[ 3J 5C:==:?8 :?E@ E96
D6:D>@86?:4 K@?6 2?5 DEF5J:?8 D2>A=6D 7C@> :E[ D4:6?E:DED 9@A6 E@
F?4@G6C E96 F?<?@H?D 23@FE =2C86\D42=6[ EDF?2>:\86?6C2E:?8
62CE9BF2<6D[ DF49 2D 9@H 72C 62CE9BF2<6 72F=E D=:A 42? EC2G6= FA E@
E96 D62365]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~?6 D:E6 2E 2 E:>6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 7@FC DE286D @7 }2?%C@$tx+t 6IA65:E:@?D] x? E96 7:CDE
6IA65:E:@?[ E96 8@2= H2D E@ 5C:== 5:776C6?E D:K65 3@C69@=6D 2E D:I
=@42E:@?D] u@FC H6C6 4@>A=6E65] ~?6 @7 E96 AFCA@D6D @7 5C:==:?8i %@
86E =@8D \ 6=64EC@?:4 C6DA@?D6D \ 7C@> =@88:?8 E@@=D E92E 2C6
A=2465 5:C64E=J 369:?5 E96 5C:== 3:E]k^Am
kAmu@C &?56CH@@5[ E96 7F? A2CE :D 36:?8 2>@?8 E96 7:CDE E@ 7:?5 @FE
H92E E96 62CE9 :D C62==J >256 @7]k^Am
kAmqFE F?E:= 96 2?5 9:D E62> 4@>A=6E6 E96 AC@8C2>[ E96 t2CE9 H:==
<66A :ED D64C6ED]k^Am
kAmQxEVD 2== 9JA@E96E:42=] (6 92G6 :562D 3FE E96 E6DE:?8 @7 E96
:562 :D E96 C62= AFCA@D6 @7 E96 AC@;64E[Q &?56CH@@5 D2:5] Q%96@CJ
@?=J E2<6D J@F D@ 72C]Qk^Am
kAmx? @C56C 7@C 5C:==:?8 E@ 36 4@>A=6E65[ E96 E62> ?665D E@ C6249
`h[___ 766E :? @?6 3@C69@=6] ~E96C 3@C69@=6D G2CJ :? D:K6]k^Am
kAmQ%9:D :D AC6EEJ 4FEE:?8 6586 D4:6?46 8@:?8 @? 96C6[Q {:89E D2:5]
Q%96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 D@4:6E:6D :? E96 H@C=5 H9@ 2C6 H2:E:?8 7@C E9:D
<:?5 @7 :?7@C>2E:@?]Qk^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 }2?%C@$tx+t AC@;64E[ &?56CH@@5 :D @?6 @7 76H A6@A=6 :?
E96 H@C=5 H9@ 86E E@ 36 A2CE @7 2?DH6C:?8 @?6 @7 E96 7F?52>6?E2=
BF6DE:@?D :? D6:D>@=@8J[ @C 62CE9BF2<6 D4:6?46]k^Am
kAmQu2F=E 2?5 62CE9BF2<6 D4:6?46D 2C6 @?6 @7 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E
F?2?DH6C65 BF6DE:@?D 2D E@ F?56C H92E 4:C4F>DE2?46D 62CE9BF2<6D
H:== C62==J 92AA6?[Q 96 D2:5] Q%96 6I4:E:?8 A2CE :D 7:?5:?8 @FE
H92E >2E6C:2= AC@A6CE:6D 2C6 :? A=246 ?@H \ H6VG6 ?6G6C 366? 23=6
E@ 5@ E92E 367@C6]Qk^Am
kAm(92E D4:6?E:DED 5@ <?@H :D E92E 62CE9BF2<6D 5@?VE @44FC 2E
D92==@H 56AE9D 3642FD6 >2E6C:2= :D E@@ H62<] pE D@>6 A@:?E[ E96
AC@A6CE:6D 492?86[ 3FE H9J 2?5 9@H :D H92E E96J 2:> E@ =62C?
E9C@F89 }2?%C@$tx+t]k^Am
kAmtG6? E9@F89 :E H:== E2<6 >2?J J62CD E@ 4@>A=6E6 E96 7@FC DE286D
\ A6C>2?6?E @3D6CG2E@CJ DJDE6>D 3F:=E :?E@ E96 F=EC2 566A 3@C69@=6
2?5 62CE9BF2<6 7@C642DED \ &?56CH@@5 :D 9F>3=65 2?5 6I4:E65 E@ 36
A2CE @7 9:DE@CJ :? E96 >2<:?8]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%96 2DA:C:?8 D4:6?E:DEk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%9@F89 96 42?VE :>28:?6 5@:?8 2?JE9:?8 6=D6[ &?56CH@@5 5:5?VE
2=H2JD <?@H D4:6?46 H2D :? 9:D 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAm&?56CH@@5 DA6?E 9:D 6?E:C6 49:=59@@5 :? {@5:] w6 A=2J65 2== E96
DA@CED 96 4@F=5 F?E:= 9:89 D49@@=[ H96? 9:D HC6DE=:?8 2?5 7@@E32==
E62>>2E6D A2DD65 9:> FA :? D:K6]k^Am
kAmQx DE2CE65 86EE:?8 <:==65[Q =2F89D E96 7@C>6C CF??:?8 324< 2?5
=:?6324<6C]k^Am
kAmx?DE625[ 96 42FD65 2 D42?52= 2?5 52E65 2 D6?:@C H96? 96 H2D @?=J
2 ;F?:@C]k^Am
kAmw:D 72E96C H2D E96 =@?8E:>6 }6HD\$6?E:?6= DA@CED 65:E@C r2C=
&?56CH@@5[ 2?5 9:D >@E96C[ yF5J &?56CH@@5[ H2D E96 65:E@C @7 E96
D@4:6EJ D64E:@?] %96J DA6?E 72>:=J G242E:@?D @? E96 362496D @7 {@?8
q6249[ {@D p?86=6D 2?5 {2<6 %29@6] w6 5:5?VE <?@H E92E 9:D
25@=6D46?E :?E6C6DE :? E96 @FE5@@CD H@F=5 =625 9:> E@ 9:D 42C66C 2D
2 86@=@8:DE 2?5 D4:6?E:DE]k^Am
kAmx? 2 9:89 D49@@= >2C:?6 3:@=@8J 4=2DD[ &?56CH@@5 7@F?5 D@>6E9:?8
E92E :?E6C6DE65 9:>]k^Am
kAmw6 EC2565 :? 9:D =:76=@?8 {@5: C6D:56?46 7@C 2? F?56C8C25F2E6
A@D:E:@? @? E96 DAC2H=:?8[ EC66\4@G6C65 42>AFD @7 &?:G6CD:EJ @7
r2=:7@C?:2[ $2?E2 rCFK]k^Am
kAm~? 9:D H2J E@ 2 32496=@CVD 568C66 :? @462? D4:6?46D[ &?56CH@@5
H2D 2H2<6?65 E@ E96 >2?J 2C62D @7 D4:6?46 E92E 9:89 D49@@= 5:5?VE
E6249] v6@=@8J \ E96 DEF5J @7 C@4<D 2?5 >:?6C2=D 2?5 E96 DECF4EFC6
@7 E96 t2CE9 \ 42AE:G2E65 E96 J@F?8 DEF56?E] w6 DH:E4965 9:D >2;@C
E@ t2CE9 $4:6?46D[ E96 568C66 H96C6 @?6 C6BF:C6>6?E :D 42>A:?8 2?5
9:<:?8]k^Am
kAmr2C= &?56CH@@5 C642==D 9@H A2DD:@?2E6 9:D D@? H2D 27E6C E2<:?8 2
2 368:??:?8 86@=@8J 4=2DD 2E &r $2?E2 rCFK] w6 <?6H E96? E92E |:<6
&?56CH@@5 H2D 8@:?8 E@ DEC:G6 E@ 36 2 8C62E 86@=@8:DE]k^Am
kAmQ%96C6 2C6 ?@ =:>:ED @? H92E 96 EC:6D E@ 5@[Q D2:5 r2C=
&?56CH@@5] Qp?JE9:?8 96 EC:6D[ 96 H2?ED E@ 36 E96 36DE 96 42?
36]Qk^Am
kAm|:4926= &?56CH@@5 2EE6?565 8C25F2E6 D49@@= 2E r@C?6==
&?:G6CD:EJ] (:E9 6IA6C:6?46 H@C<:?8 7@C E96 &]$] v6@=@8:42= $FCG6J[
&?56CH@@5 925 ?@ EC@F3=6 86EE:?8 2 E6249:?8 A@D:E:@? 2E &?:G6CD:EJ
@7 |:DD@FC:]k^Am
kAmx? 36EH66? }2?%C@$tx+t 6IA65:E:@?D[ &?56CH@@5 DE:== E62496D
4=2DD6D C2?8:?8 7C@> 7@FC DEF56?ED E@ =64EFC6 92==D @7 b__ DEF56?ED
ECJ:?8 E@ 86E E96:C 86?6C2= 65F42E:@? C6BF:C6>6?ED @FE @7 E96
H2J]k^Am
kAmtG6? :? 9:D E:>6 @77[ 96 7:?5D 9:>D6=7 @FE5@@CD[ 9:<:?8[ D<::?8
2?5 42>A:?8 H:E9 9:D H:76 2?5 {@5: w:89 DH66E962CE[ v2:= u=296CEJ[
H:E9 H9@> 96 92D EH@ 8C@H? 49:=5C6?]k^Am
k5:G DEJ=6lQH:5E9ibc_AIj 7=@2Ei=67Ej >2C8:?\C:89Ei`_AIjQm
k5:G :5lQAfpq(`Q 4=2DDlQAfpqQm
k5:G 4=2DDlQAfpqEC:8Qm
k9bmk2 9C67lQ;2G2D4C:AEijQ :5lQAfpqE`0`Q ?2>6lQAfpqE`0`Qmp3@FE
86@=@8Jk^2mk^9bm
k^5:Gm
k5:G :5lQAfpqH`0`Qm
k5:G :5lQAfpq4`0`Q 4=2DDlQAfpq4@?E6?EQmkDEC@?8mw@H H6== 5@ J@F <?@H
J@FC 86@=@8J D=2?8nk^DEC@?8m
kAmkDEC@?8m$F35F4E:@? K@?6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp? 2C62 H96C6 EH@ E649E@?:4 A=2E6D >66E 2?5 >@G6 E@H2C5 @?6
2?@E96C[ H:E9 @?6 D=:5:?8 F?56C?62E9 E96 @E96C 2?5 >@G:?8 :?E@ E96
>2?E=6] p? @462?:4 A=2E6 @C5:?2C:=J D=:56D F?56C?62E9 2 4@?E:?6?E2=
A=2E6[ 4C62E:?8 2 >@F?E2:?\3F:=5:?8 K@?6 H:E9 >2?J G@=42?@D 2?5
62CE9BF2<6D]k^Am
kAm$6:D>@86?:4 K@?6k^Am
kAm%96 C2?86 @7 56AE9D H:E9:? E96 4CFDE @C =:E9@DA96C6 @G6C H9:49
>@DE 62CE9BF2<6D 2C6 :?:E:2E65]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m|682E9CFDEk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp? :?E6CA=2E6 62CE9BF2<6 E92E @44FCD H96? @?6 E64E@?:4 A=2E6
D=:AD 36?62E9 2?@E96C] sF6 E@ E96 D:K6 @7 E96 E64E@?:4 A=2E6D 2?5
E96 D92==@H 5:A @7 E96 A=2E6 3@F?52CJ[ E96D6 62CE9BF2<6D 2C6 E96
H@C=5VD =2C86DE[ H:E9 Q>@>6?E >28?:EF56DQ E92E 42? 6I4665 h]_]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8ms:5 J@F <?@H … nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAme_ A6C46?E @7 E96 8=@32= A@AF=2E:@? =:G6D 2=@?8 E96 4@2DEk^Am
kAmp H@CDE\42D6 D46?2C:@ 6DE:>2E6D >@C6 E92? `_[___ 562E9D :? 2
D:?8=6 62CE9BF2<6] p=D@[ e_ A6C46?E @7 E96 8=@32= A@AF=2E:@? =:G6D
H:E9:? b` >:=6D @7 E96 4@2DE[ 2?5 fd A6C46?E @7 4@2DE2= 4:E:6D 92G6
2 A@AF=2E:@? @7 2E =62DE a >:==:@?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp ?6H <:?5 @7 VD=@H 62CE9BF2<6Vk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm#646?E=J[ G6CJ\=@H\7C6BF6?4J 62CE9BF2<6D H6C6 5:D4@G6C65 2?5
@3D6CG65 :? E96 }2?<2: %C@F89 2C62] w@H6G6C[ E96 D6:D>:4 H2G6D
2C6?VE 7@F?5 :? E96 7C6BF6?4J C2?86 @7 ?@C>2= 62CE9BF2<6D] %96D6
62CE9BF2<6D >2J AC@G:56 :>A@CE2?E :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE 9@H =2C86C
62CE9BF2<6D 2C6 86?6C2E65]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp== 23@FE r9:<JFk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm|62?:?8i Q!=2?6E t2CE9Q :? y2A2?6D6k^Am
kAm(92E >2<6D r9:<JF D@ DA64:2=n xE >@56=D E96 H@C=5VD >@DE
25G2?465 D4:6?E:7:4 5C:==:?8 42A23:=:E:6D] xE 42? 92?5=6 ba[g_g
766E @7 5C:== DEC:?8D WA:A6DX] %9:D 6?23=6D E96 D9:A E@ 5C:== >@C6
E92? aa[hee 766E :?E@ E96 @462? 7=@@C :? H2E6C 56AE9 @7 FA E@ g[a_b
766E]k^Am
kAm(92E :D E96 4@DE @7 3F:=5:?8 r9:<JFn r@?DECF4E:@? 4@DED E@E2==65
e_ 3:==:@? J6? W23@FE Sdc_ >:==:@? &]$]X[ 7F?565 3J y2A2?]k^Am
kAmk6>m$@FC46i x?E68C2E65 ~462? sC:==:?8 !C@8C2>k^6>mk3C 4=2DDl
QAf%!4=62CQ ^mk^Am
k^5:Gm
k^5:Gm
k^5:Gm
k^5:Gm
kAmw:D :?E6C6DE :? DA@CED :D DE:== 2D DEC@?8 2D :E H2D H96? 9:D
72E96C E@@< 9:> E@ 9:D 7:CDE {@5: w:89 7@@E32== 82>6 H96? 96 H2D
@?=J e J62CD @=5]k^Am
kAmQw:D =@G6 7@C 86@=@8J 92D?VE 5:>:?:D965 9:D C62= :?E6C6DE :?
DA@CED[Q r2C= &?56CH@@5 D2:5]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#6EFC?:?8 E@ E96 r9:<JFk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm!6C92AD E96 3:886DE 492==6?86 @7 |x4926= &?56CH@@5VD 42C66C :D
DE:== 29625] ~? E96 FA4@>:?8 s646>36C 2?5 y2?F2CJ 6IA65:E:@? 23@2C5
r9:<JF[ &?56CH@@5 92D 366? :?G:E65 E@ 36 E96 4@\49:67
D4:6?E:DE]k^Am
kAm%96 6IA65:E:@? H:== 4@>A=6E6 5C:==:?8 @? E96 =2DE EH@ D:E6D] u@C
E96 7:CDE E:>6[ E96 8C@FA H:== FD65 2 >65:42=\BF2=:EJ )\C2J D42??6C
E@ D66 C@4< 2?5 D65:>6?E]k^Am
kAmQyFDE 2D J@F 42? D66 :?D:56 D@>6@?6VD 2C> 2?5 >2<6 2 b\s :>286[
J@F 42? 5@ E96 D2>6 H:E9 E96 4@C6] *@F 42? D66 D@>6 E9:?8D E96
9F>2? 6J6 42?VE[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm(:E9 6IEC2 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ[ &?56CH@@5 2=D@ 92D 6IEC2 DEC6DD] %96
AC@8C2> 2D 2 H9@=6 :D 2=C625J CF??:?8 :?E@ >2;@C 5:77:4F=E:6D
3642FD6 @7 E96 C:D:?8 4@DE @7 7F6=] xE E2<6D 23@FE Scd_[___ 2 52J
E@ CF? r9:<JF[ 2?5 dad 52JD E@ 5C:== @?6 566A 9@=6]k^Am
kAmuF?5:?8 4@>6D 7C@> >2?J :?E6C?2E:@?2= D4:6?46 @C82?:K2E:@?D]k^Am
kAmxEVD 2? 6IA6?D:G6 AC@;64E[ 3FE |:4926= &?56CH@@5 D2JD E96
:>A@CE2?46 @7 E96 AC@;64E 42?VE 36 >62DFC65 3J 4@DE]k^Am
kAmqJ >@?:E@C:?8 72F=ED E92E 2C6 42A23=6 @7 86?6C2E:?8 62CE9BF2<6D
`__ E:>6D 3:886C E92? E96 $2? p?5C62D 72F=E 42?[ E96 >2:? 8@2= :D
E@ 36 23=6 E@ AC@G:56 H2C?:?8 2?5 D2G6 =:G6D :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAmQtG6?EF2==J 9F>2?D H:== 36 23=6 E@ AC65:4E 62CE9BF2<6D 2E
46CE2:? =@42=:E:6D :7 E96J 92G6 6?@F89 :?7@C>2E:@?[Q |:4926=
&?56CH@@5 D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? 2 76H >@?E9D[ 2?@E96C E62> @7 D4:6?E:DED H:== D6E @FE E@ E96
H2E6CD @7 y2A2?] pD E96 52JD 4@>6 E@ 2? 6?5[ D4:6?E:DED 7C@> 24C@DD
E96 H@C=5 H:== DE6A 2H2J 7C@> E96 >:4C@D4@A6D[ DH:E49 E96 4@>AFE6CD
E@ D=66A >@56 2?5 DE2C6 @FE E@ D62] pD E96 @C2?86 DF? D:?<D :?E@
E96 8=@H:?8 H2E6C[ E96J H:== =@@< E@ E96 H9:E642AD E92E 9:56 E96
D64C6ED @7 E@>@CC@H]k^Am
Rules of Conduct
Welcome to the discussion.
Or, use your linked account: